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Rule change hurts Diamondbacks in loss to Phillies

Ryan Howard homered in his second game since a three-game benching and scored the go-ahead run on an overturned call at the plate in the Philadelphia Phillies' 4-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

PHILADELPHIA -- Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero is never one to mince words, even when talking about the rule his new boss of bosses, Tony La Russa, helped bring into existence.

If you ask Montero, experimental rule 7.13 – adopted before the season to govern home-plate collision situations – needs to be wiped from the books. It may have cost the Diamondbacks the go-ahead run in their 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.

"It's an awkward, awkward rule," Montero said. "Leave the game alone, man. Don't try to change so many things. The game's been for years like that and it's been fun and nobody's been complaining about it. Next thing you know, we've got instant replay, we've got not blocking the plate, all that kind of stuff. It's kind of not fun anymore."

The game was tied 2-2 in the ninth when the inconsistent interpretation of the new rule stung Arizona. With Ryan Howard on first, Marlon Byrd hit a pop fly that was dropped by Didi Gregorius in shallow right. Howard belatedly steamed around second and third, but was out by a mile at home on a throw from centerfielder Ender Inciarte.

Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg asked for a review, something to which he's entitled without burning a challenge. Officials at Baseball Advanced Media headquarters in New York ruled that Montero had blocked the plate, despite the ball beating Howard home by four or five steps.

Rule 7.13 states that a catcher cannot block the plate unless in possession of the ball, or if the trajectory of the incoming throw takes him into the basepath. Montero felt he complied with that contingency.

"The throw took me there, I went and got the ball," he said. "They called I was blocking the plate. So I asked (home plate umpire Dale Scott) what I should do in the future, because I don't want this to happen again. What should I do? They honestly didn't have an answer."

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson disagreed with the ruling, but was quick to point out how Arizona could have avoided it in the first place. Starter Vidal Nuno could have put away Howard after getting ahead 0-2 instead of issuing a two-out walk. Gregorius could have caught Byrd's popup.

"We had a chance to win that game, and the rule didn't cost us that game," Gibson said.

Still, even Sandberg acknowledged his team probably got away with one.

"All the other replays seem to be pretty cut and dried and working smoothly," Sandberg said. "The play at home plate, there is a lot of judgment there and a little bit of confusion. Even three months into the season, the catcher did not know he couldn't stand there the whole time."

The review was the fourth time this season the Diamondbacks have found themselves on the wrong end of a disputed blocking-the-plate call, although it was the first time they were on the defensive end. The other three times, Arizona runners were ruled out at home, calls that were upheld after Arizona argued the catcher blocked the plate.

The effect of Sunday's ruling didn't end in the sixth either. Arizona had an almost identical play with two outs in the seventh, with David Peralta missing a ball in left but hitting shortstop Nick Ahmed for a relay home.

Ahmed's throw took a bad hop and Montero couldn't catch cleanly, allowing Wil Nieves to score from first. Montero was also clearly set up well clear of the plate, although he said that had nothing to do with him mishandling the ball. He did acknowledge he had the previous inning's play in his mind.

"Obviously I have no clue where to go," said Montero, who was ultimately charged with an error on the play. "The next inning we got another play and I'm like, 'OK, am I blocking the plate? Should I be worried to catch the ball? Should I be worried to block the plate? Should I be worried to not block the plate?' They make things so difficult with that new rule."

Montero said he doesn't care about being charged with the error, which may have been a questionable call. The play was initially ruled an error on Peralta, then a triple and later a double with an advance on the throw before landing on Montero's shoulders.

He also doesn't care about protecting himself from a collision if he can keep the game-winning run off the board.

"I'd much rather get killed," he said. "Seriously, I'd much rather be run over. Come, get me."

Philadelphia Phillies' Wil Nieves, left, scores past Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero on a hit by Ben Revere during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 27, 2014, in Philadelphia. Revere reached third after a fielding error by left fielder David Peralta on the play. (Photo: Matt Slocum/AP)

Philadelphia Phillies' Grady Sizemore breaks his bat on a single off Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter during the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 26, 2014, in Philadelphia. At right is catcher Tuffy Gosewisch. (Photo: Matt Slocum AP)

Diamondbacks starting pitcher Josh Collmenter wipes his face as he sits on the bench after being pulled during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, July 26, 2014, in Philadelphia. (Photo: Matt Slocum AP)

General view of the ball park and evening sky during the fifth inning of a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Alfredo Marte hits a grand slam home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Jul 25, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Alfredo Marte (17) walks back to the dugout and is congratulated by team mates after hitting a grand slam home run during the sixth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Bill Streicher Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Alfredo Marte (second from right) hits a grand slam home run and is congratulated by second baseman Aaron Hill, catcher Miguel Montero and third baseman Martin Prado (right) during the sixth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Alfredo Marte (17) hits a grand slam home run and is congratulated by second baseman Aaron Hill and catcher Miguel Montero and third baseman Martin Prado (right) during the sixth inning of a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) dives to field a ground ball keeping it in the infield during the first inning a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley (26) scores a run and is congratulated by third baseman Cody Asche (25) during the first inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Grady Sizemore (24) catches a fly ball during the first inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park. (Photo: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports)

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Recap: Diamondbacks starter Vidal Nuño turned in a strong outing, but the Diamondbacks were hurt by a pair of errors and a controversial home-plate ruling in a 4-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday at Citizens Bank Park.

The Diamondbacks got down 2-0 in the first after 1B Ryan Howard took Nuño deep for a two-run homer but clawed back to a 2-2 tie with a run in the second on a double from SS Nick Ahmed and one in the sixth on 1B Paul Goldschmidt's sacrifice fly.

They quickly gave it back with run-scoring errors in each of the sixth and seventh innings. LF David Peralta and C Miguel Montero each hit opposite-field singles off Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon in the ninth to bring the winning run to the plate, but 3B Martin Prado grounded into a double play to end the game.

Defensive miscues: While the controversial blocking-the-plate call at home will get more attention, the Diamondbacks could have avoided it if not for an error by 2B Didi Gregorius. With a runner on first and two outs in the sixth, Phillies RF Marlon Byrd skied a pop fly into shallow right-center that Gregorius had to fade back to get. The wind caught the ball, which then bounced off Gregorius' glove.

"When it went up I was underneath it, and the wind took it further than I thought and (RF Gerardo) Parra didn't see it either, so I decided to call it and it hit my glove and it dropped," Gregorius said. "So it's my mistake."

Nuño's outing: The Diamondbacks bullpen needed a rest after getting fewer than three innings from starter Josh Collmenter the night before, and Nuño obliged by throwing 62/3 innings and a career-high 117 pitches.

"I've been doing my running, doing extra stuff, just knowing that coming into this day after a long game yesterday my pitch count should be up," Nuño said. "So felt fine, felt strong and had a groove there."

After giving up the home run to Howard in the first, he gave up just a single and a walk in the next four innings. He was a strike away from retiring Howard and ending the sixth, but walked him instead. Howard eventually scored the go-ahead run on Gregorius' error.

Nuño was charged with just two earned runs and struck out five while issuing three walks. Arizona committed two errors behind him.

"The defense came through at times, but those sun balls were kind of tough right there," he said. "It's just part of the game sometimes."

Goldy milestone: With his sacrifice fly in the sixth, Goldschmidt recorded his 300th career RBI. He reached that mark in his 457th game.

View from the press box: The Diamondbacks have been getting trade interest on many of their relievers, and it wouldn't be surprising if RHP Randall Delgado is one of them. After struggling early, Delgado has picked up steam as of late. He struck out the side in his lone inning Sunday and now has a 0.75 ERA eight July outings.

Notable: Anderson has allowed two earned runs or less in eight of his 11 starts. With nearly 100 innings under his belt between the majors and Double-A, the team is being cautious where it can to limit his workload. . … Bailey is in the first year of a six-year, $105 million extension signed in February, although he's posting poorer results than in the last couple years, when he combined to have a 3.58 ERA.